Article support



Nov. 2, 1965 P. c. CULVER 3,215,388

ARTICLE SUPPORT Filed Jan. 16, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 72 Paul acuzwr Nov. 2, 1965 P. c. CULVER 3,215,388

ARTICLE SUPPORT Filed Jan. 16, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F f2. 27 4 L J4 1 2{14 J2 429 @4 56 z INVENTOR. 72 70 74 54 PCLZIZOCZLZYJG/M Nov. 2, 1965P. c. CULVER 3,215,388

ARTICLE SUPPORT Filed Jan. 16, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Paul CGait/e7 United States Patent Office Patented Nov. 2, 1965 3,215,388ARTICLE SUPPORT Paul C. Culver, RED. 5, Quantico Road, Salisbury, Md.Filed Jan. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 338,115 7 Claims. (Cl. 248313) Thisinvention relates to supports for holding flanged or beaded articles ina fixed position, and more particularly for holding articles such ascontainers in positions in which they would otherwise be likely totopple over.

When articles such as flanged or beaded containers are stored or are ondisplay, it is essential that they be held in a fixed position. This isespecially important where these articles are stored on boats or othermoving vehicles or are displayed in inclined positions where they arelikely to topple over. There has thus been a long standing need for adevice which can effectively hold such flanged articles in position andwhich is sufliciently low in cost to be available for wide use by theaverage person.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple and economicalsupport for holding flanged or beaded articles in a fixed position toovercome their tendency to topple over.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a device in whichthe article can be quickly inserted and quickly released withouthampering its positive holding action.

In accordance with this invention the article support includes a band ofsubstantially closed form which fits about the article. The band hasspaced projections with a resilient element secured to the band oppositea portion of the projections and coperating with them in holding thearticle in a fixed position. The article is easily inserted in thesupport by tilting the article and pressing it against the resilientelement to retract it. The article is then simply snapped into placewith one of the projections on one side of the flange or bead and theremainder of the projections and the resilient element on the otherside. For removal the container is simply shifted sideways, pressingagainst the resilient element to again retract it and, in a singlemotion, the container is rotated until the flange or bead is free of theprojections.

In an advantageous form of this invention, the resilient elementcomprises a leaf spring secured to the band. The leaf spring may beU-shaped with its bight held between the band and a mounting bracket.The legs of the spring may be notched to provide sufiicient space forthe article flange to be inserted between the spring and one of thespaced projections.

In another advantageous form of this invention, the spring may have oneend anchored to both a mounting bracket and the band, with its free endreacting against the article. One of the spaced projections may be aflange having a hole with a portion of the article, such as the nozzleof an aerosol can, projecting through it.

Novel features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the followingdescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings whereinsimilar reference characters refer to similar parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 used inan alternative manner;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional plan View taken through FIG. 2 along theline 3-3;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the embodiment of the invention shown inFIG. '2;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are respectively rear and side views in elevation, of theembodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views taken through FIG. 4 along thelines 7-7 and 88;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the embodiment of the invention shown inFIGS. -l8;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 4 showing a furtherembodiment of this invention;

FIG. 11 is a rear view in elevation of the embodiment of the inventionshown in FIG. 9; and

FIGS. 12-15 are side views in elevation of alternative mounting meansfor the embodiments of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-111.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 bracket or support 10 is used to hold flangedor beaded articles such as containers in a fixed position on a wall,shelf, or other mounting surface in a boat, or other moving vehicle, orin an inclined position where the article would otherwise have atendency to topple over. As most clearly shown in FIG. 9, support 10comprises a band 12 of substantially closed form which fits around thearticle or container 18 and a pair of indentations or side projections16 which abut against the flange or bead on container 18 as laterdescribed in detail. Band 12 also has a flange or projection 14 at itsedge for purposes later described. As shown in FIG. 7, indentations orprojections 16 are spaced from flange or lip 14 a distance at leastequal to the thickness of the bead or flange 22 to permit head 22 to beinserted between projections 16 and flange 14. A resilient element suchas U-shaped leaf spring 24 is secured to band 12 opposite andsubstantially in line with indentations or projections 16. Bight 26 ofspring 24 is substantially straight and secured to the band by beinganchored between portion or flange 28 of band 12 and flange 30 onmounting bracket 32. Bracket 32 is maintained parallel to flange 14 byits securement to band 12 by, for example, screws 34. The legs 36 and 38of spring 24 are curved at their ends and project beyond the edge 40 ofbracket 32. As shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8 spring 24 is substantially aswide as the distance between bracket 32 and flange 14 so that the springis anchored snugly between flange 14 and bracket 32. Spring 24 can thusmove only substantially parallel to flange 14. Legs 36 and 38 arenotched to provide a space for the bead or flange 22 of container 18 aslater described in detail.

To insert container 18 in support 10, the container is tilted andpressed against legs 36 and 38 of spring 24 to retract the legs therebyproviding suificient clearance for the container to be convenientlysnapped into place with flange or bead 22 firmly held betweenprojections or indentions 16 and spring 24 and flange 14 as shown inFIG. 7. When container 18 is released, spring 24 returns to its originalposition reacting against the wall of container 18. Any subsequentdownward force, such as gravity, which might ordinarily dislodge ortopple the container is resisted by indentations 16 and spring 24reacting against flange 22. For removal the container is simply shiftedsideways, pressing against legs 36 and 38 of spring 24 to retract thelegs, and then in one simple motion the container is tilted or pivotedbeyond indentations 16.

FIG. 1 shows an alternative use for support 10. The top of aerosol can20 is inserted through annular opening or hole 44 in flange 14 with thebead or flange (not shown) held firmly between flange 14 and the springand projections.

FIGS. 1011 show another support 10a. Support 10a is identical in allrespects to support 10 except in the details of spring 24a. Spring 24ais anchored at one end to band 12a, while free end 36a projects beyondthe edge of bracket 32a. Curved free end 36a is notched as shown in FIG.1:1 to provide suflicient clearance for the bead of the container (notshown). Conveniently spring 24a and bracket 3211 are both attached toband 12a by, for

example, a screw through aligned holes in the band, the spring, andflange 46a of bracket 32a.

FIGS. 12-15 show various ways of mounting bracket against flange .-14and the other leg 58 is secured against wall 48. As shown in FIG. 15,leg 56 extends beyond flange 14 when it is desired to space thecontainer from wall 48, while in FIG. 14 leg 56 terminates at plate 12.

As is readily apparent supports and 10a provide a simple holding devicewhich is readily adaptable for holding a wide variety of different typearticles effectively in place without the necessity of complicatedmanipulations for inserting or removing the article.

What isclaimed is:

1. A supportfor holding a flanged article in a fixed position comprisinga band of substantially closed form to fit.around said article, saidband having an interior wall,-an inwardly directed lip at the bottom ofsaid interior-wall, projecting means on said interior wall spaced abovesaid lip, resilient means on said interior wall opposite said projectingmeans, said resilient means comprising a U-shaped leaf spring, anupstanding flange being on said lip, a bracket connected to thetop ofsaid band, a downwardly disposed plate on said bracket adjacent saidflange, and the bight of said spring being between said flange and saidplate.

2. A support as set forth in claim 1 wherein fastening means securessaid bracket to the sides of said band, and said bight of said spring isclamped between said flange and said plate.

3. A support as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spring issubstantially as wide as said interior wall and the free ends of thelegs of said spring being notched.

4. A support as set forth in claim 1 wherein said band includes aplurality of indentations on its side wall, and said indentationscomprising said projecting means.

5. A support for holding a flanged article in a fixed positioncomprising a band of substantially closed form to fit around saidarticle, said band having an interior wall, an inwardly directed lip atthe bottom of said interior wall, projecting means on said interior wallspaced above said lip, resilient means on said interior wall oppositesaid projecting means, a bracket being connected to the top of said bandand extending along the side thereof, said resilient means comprising aleaf spring with a free end and an anchored end, said anchored end beingsecured to said bracket and said band, aligned apertures being in saidanchored end of said spring and said bracket and said band, andfastening means securing said spring to-said bracket and hand throughsaid aligned apertures.

6. A support as set forth in claim 5 wherein said spring issubstantially as wide as said interior wall, and said free end of saidspring being notched.

7. A support as set forth in claim 5 wherein said band includes aplurality of indentations on its side wall, and said indentationscomprising said projecting means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 288,058 11/83Hollister 248-315 826,294 7/06 Waldschmidt 248-310 995,275 6/ 11 Miller248-3 l 0 1,988,697 l/ Morris 248-310 2,461,968 2/49 Derham Q 2483102,850,079 9/58 Prushnok et a1 248.3l0 3,028,136 4/62 Vento 2483l"l FRANKL. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

1. A SUPPORT FOR HOLDING A FLANGED ARTICLE IN A FIXED POSITON COMPRISINGA BAND OF SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSED FORM TO FIT AROUND SAID ARTICLE, SAIDBAND HAVING AN INTERIOR WALL, AN INWARDLY DIRECTED LIP AT THE BOTTOM OFSAID INTERIOR WALL, PROJECTING MEANS ON SAID INTERIOR WALL SAPCED ABOVESAID LIP, RESILIENT MEANS ON SID INTERIOR WALL OPPOSITE SAID PROJECTINGMEANS, SAID RESILIENT MEANS COMPRISING AND U-SHAPED LEAF SPRING, ANUPSTANDING FLANGE BEING ON SAID LIP, A BRACKET CONNECTED TO THE TOP OFSAID BAND, A DOWNWARDLY DISPOSED PLATE ON SAID BACKET ADJACENT SAIDFLANGE, AND THE BIGHT OF SAID SPRING BEING BETWEEN SAID FLANGE AND SAIDPLATE.